9781416502487

Necropolis: London and its Dead

From Roman burial rites to the horrors of the plague, from the founding of the great Victorian cemeteries to the development of cremation and the current approach of metropolitan society towards death and bereavement -- including more recent trends to displays of collective grief and the cult of mourning, such as that surrounding the death of Diana, Princess of Wales -- NECROPOLIS: LONDON AND ITS DEAD offers a vivid historical narrative of this great city's attitude to going the way of all flesh. As layer upon layer of London soil reveals burials from pre-historic and medieval times, the city is revealed as one giant grave, filled with the remains of previous eras -- pagan, Roman, medieval, Victorian. This fascinating blend of archaeology, architecture and anecdote includes such phenomena as the rise of the undertaking trade and the pageantry of state funerals; public executions and bodysnatching. Ghoulishly entertaining and full of fascinating nuggets of information, Necropolis leaves no headstone unturned in its exploration of our changing attitudes to the deceased among us. Both anecdotal history and cultural commentary, Necropolis will take its place alongside classics of the city such as Peter Ackroyd's LONDON.

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Product Description:

London is a city literally built upon its dead: the Houses of Parliament sit on the edge of a former plague pit, and subway tunnels were driven through forgotten catacombs thick with bones. Utilizing archaeology, anthropology, anecdote, and history, this gloriously macabre tour explores the presence of death in Londoners' lives and the changes in burial rites through two millennia of English history. The city’s greatest disasters—including the Great Fire and the Black Plague—are analyzed in regards to their massive impacts on the living and the dead, while the resting places of several thousand Londoners are highlighted as a means of examining population growth and city development. Implicitly entwined with the passing of generations is the transformation of an entire population; death effects how and where future generations live. From Roman burial ceremonies to the more recent passing of Princess Diana, this unique history leaves no headstone unturned.

About the Author:

Catharine Arnold read English at Cambridge and holds a further degree in psychology. A journalist, academic and popular historian, she is the author of the Lost Time, winner of a Betty Trask award.

Book Description SIMON SCHUSTER, United States, 2008. Paperback. Book Condition: New. New edition. 196 x 128 mm. Language: English Brand New Book. From Roman burial rites to the horrors of the plague, from the founding of the great Victorian cemeteries to the development of cremation and the current approach of metropolitan society towards death and bereavement -- including more recent trends to displays of collective grief and the cult of mourning, such as that surrounding the death of Diana, Princess of Wales -- NECROPOLIS: LONDON AND ITS DEAD offers a vivid historical narrative of this great city s attitude to going the way of all flesh. As layer upon layer of London soil reveals burials from pre-historic and medieval times, the city is revealed as one giant grave, filled with the remains of previous eras -- pagan, Roman, medieval, Victorian. This fascinating blend of archaeology, architecture and anecdote includes such phenomena as the rise of the undertaking trade and the pageantry of state funerals; public executions and bodysnatching. Ghoulishly entertaining and full of fascinating nuggets of information, Necropolis leaves no headstone unturned in its exploration of our changing attitudes to the deceased among us. Both anecdotal history and cultural commentary, Necropolis will take its place alongside classics of the city such as Peter Ackroyd s LONDON. Bookseller Inventory # AA89781416502487

Book Description SIMON SCHUSTER, United States, 2008. Paperback. Book Condition: New. New edition. 196 x 128 mm. Language: English Brand New Book. From Roman burial rites to the horrors of the plague, from the founding of the great Victorian cemeteries to the development of cremation and the current approach of metropolitan society towards death and bereavement -- including more recent trends to displays of collective grief and the cult of mourning, such as that surrounding the death of Diana, Princess of Wales -- NECROPOLIS: LONDON AND ITS DEAD offers a vivid historical narrative of this great city s attitude to going the way of all flesh. As layer upon layer of London soil reveals burials from pre-historic and medieval times, the city is revealed as one giant grave, filled with the remains of previous eras -- pagan, Roman, medieval, Victorian. This fascinating blend of archaeology, architecture and anecdote includes such phenomena as the rise of the undertaking trade and the pageantry of state funerals; public executions and bodysnatching. Ghoulishly entertaining and full of fascinating nuggets of information, Necropolis leaves no headstone unturned in its exploration of our changing attitudes to the deceased among us. Both anecdotal history and cultural commentary, Necropolis will take its place alongside classics of the city such as Peter Ackroyd s LONDON. Bookseller Inventory # AA89781416502487

Book Description Simon &amp; Schuster UK, 2007. Book Condition: New. Brand New, Unread Copy in Perfect Condition. A+ Customer Service! Summary: A vivid historical narrative of how London has dealt with its dead from pagan burial rites through the Black Death to the Blitz and the death of Diana. Bookseller Inventory # ABE_book_new_1416502483

Book Description Simon & Schuster UK. PAPERBACK. Book Condition: New. 1416502483 A vivid historical narrative of how London has dealt with its dead from pagan burial rites through the Black Death to the Blitz and the death of Diana. Bookseller Inventory # 5016387

Book Description Simon and Schuster, 2007. Paperback. Book Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from US within 10 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000. Bookseller Inventory # KB-9781416502487

Book Description 2008. Paperback. Book Condition: New. New edition. 134mm x 21mm x 199mm. Paperback. From Roman burial rites to the horrors of the plague, from the founding of the great Victorian cemeteries to the development of cremation and the current approach of metropolitan society t.Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. 304 pages. 0.250. Bookseller Inventory # 9781416502487

Book Description Pocket Books 2007-03-05, 2007. Book Condition: New. Brand new book, sourced directly from publisher. Dispatch time is 24-48 hours from our warehouse. Book will be sent in robust, secure packaging to ensure it reaches you securely. Bookseller Inventory # NU-BER-00215122